Threat from Outside

The bright moon rises over the sea, its light shining radiantly.

The sound of dripping water hitting the ground filled the air, along with the mingled smells of dust and blood.

You Su stepped forward, and through the gaps in the branches, the clear moonlight shone down, illuminating the corpse hanging on the branch in a ghastly white light.

A rope was hanging around Huang Xi's neck. His head drooped limply, while his hands were stuck in the ground like upside-down onions, and blood was still flowing from the cuts in his arms.

Upon seeing this You Su unconsciously clenched his fists, his knuckles protruding.

He anticipated that the battle for the immortal island would be filled with bloodshed, but he did not expect it to come so swiftly. On the very first day, people were already lying dead on the isolated island.

He looked around. Centered on the tree with the Huang Xi, there was no vegetation within a ten-meter radius, only Black Soil. The soil was covered with cracks and depressions, and the messy footprints and blood were enough to prove that this was a bloody battle.

He had only met this simple and honest cultivator today, and their time together was extremely brief, You Su had a deep impression of him.

He was completely selfless, as evidenced by his contented attitude towards treasures. Perhaps he wouldn't be a good seeker of the Way, but he would certainly be a good senior disciple, a disciple whom his teachers were most reluctant to criticize.

As they parted, they were still laughing and discussing his experience of being the first to leave the island, but he didn't even have a chance to tear up the teleportation talisman...

When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out. He had clearly decided to quit while he was ahead, and he didn't even have any interest in the inheritance. He was just an insignificant opportunist, so why did he still attract such a deadly disaster?

In the stillness of the night, only You Su's heavy breathing echoed.

Vendetta?

You Su felt that such a possibility was unlikely. Huang Xi was a cultivator from a remote area, and his character was visibly good. How could he have such deep grudges and entanglements?

Did you have a disagreement about something?

That doesn't make sense... Huang Xi was very polite even when asking me, a mere Water Condensing Lower Realm cultivator, for Floating Light Grass. How could he possibly argue with someone like that?

Remembering the Floating Light Grass, You Su hurriedly ran behind him, only to find that the sack he was carrying on his back was nowhere to be seen.

So it really was greed that led to murder and robbery...?

This is not a rare occurrence in the cultivation world; in fact, it's quite commonplace. However, because You Su either confines himself to Chuyun City or stays in the Xuanxiao Sect, the number one sect in the Central Yuan Continent, he has little exposure to the dark side of the cultivation world.

But You Su felt something was amiss. If it was simply for Huang Xi's gain, why kill him? Couldn't they have let him go, or given him a chance to tear up the teleportation talisman and leave the island? Why cut off his hands and hang him here as if to vent his anger and display him to the public?

You Su was completely baffled. Looking at the fairy island, half-lit and half-shadowed by the moonlight, he felt deeply uneasy.

You Su drew his Ink Pine Sword, and with a flash of light, Huang Xi's corpse fell to the ground.

You Su caught him firmly and closed his unseeing eyes, feeling an indescribable bitterness in her heart.

Another good person has been lost to the world. It's a pity that the deceased is gone, You Su can't possibly chase after a murderer thousands of miles away for someone with whom he had only a simple relationship.

With swift fingers and moving lips, You Su conjured a Technique Method, and the Black Soil beneath his feet softened on its own. After a few simple digs, You Su easily unearthed a grave.

This soft soil technique was one of the new Technique Method he had learned, intended to help him escape if he were trapped in a cave. However, he never expected to use it for the first time to dig up someone's grave.

Just as You Su pulled Huang Xi's corpse back, a cloud obscured the bright moon, and darkness completely engulfed the fairy island.

You Su's Black Eyes have many uses. He knew that they had night Black Eyes on the night he killed True Man Ling, but this night vision was not absolute; it could only see living things.

Or rather... something that has warmth.

With no light and no living creatures around, You Su relied on his Divine Sense, which he could use as if it were his own arm, only to be surprised to find that the range that his Divine Sense could explore was even smaller!

His field of vision was ten meters during the day, but at night it was only about eight meters...

This environment filled him with fear; the True Immortal Zhengyang was intentionally making the night more dangerous.

He had no Divine Sense but to concentrate even more, becoming alert to any disturbance in his surroundings.

However, he was blind, and his hearing was far superior to that of ordinary cultivators.

Just as You Su dragged Huang Xi's body into the grave, a rustling sound came from inside. Although You Su was still squatting, he immediately went into battle mode, his muscles bulging with power.

In the darkness, two figures could be vaguely seen, one tall and one short, standing very close together, seemingly together.

"Senior brother, the sound is coming from over there!"

You Su vaguely saw that the shorter figure was pointing in her direction.

"Go find them." The tall cultivator nodded.

You Su was slightly taken aback. It was true that he had made noise while digging and moving the corpse, but these two people did not have any means of lighting or lighting, yet they arrived extremely quickly, as if they were completely unaffected by the darkness and went straight to where he was.

It should be noted that even the Third Elder was amazed by You Su's Divine Sense strength, saying that he had completely reached the level of the Water Condensing Upper Realm. You Su, however, knew that this was only the result of him suppressing his power. Of course, even he himself did not know the reason, guessing that it was due to those fragments of memory.

Even his detection range was only eight meters; there was no way these people could have detected him that far. So why did they dare to launch such a reckless attack on an obviously populated area at night? Weren't they afraid of an ambush?

Are they possessing special Divine Ability? Or are they just dullards and brutes?

In that moment of hesitation, the two had already arrived close, but You Su had no intention of running away, after all, Huang Xi's funeral was only halfway through.

"Don't come any closer," You Su said coldly.

The two men did indeed stop, and the taller one asked:

Are you alone, brother?

"It's none of your business. Take another step closer, and your life or death will be uncertain." You Su's tone remained icy, like a sword covered in frost.

"You're just a low-level Water Condensing Lower Realm, yet you have such a big mouth! My senior brother intends to protect you, how can you be so ungrateful?!" The short cultivator pointed at You Su angrily.

"Junior brother, I told you long ago that we must be wary on this island. It's only right that this fellow Daoist is cautious of us." The tall cultivator clearly saw things more clearly.

"I don't need your protection, I'll just leave." You Su didn't want to start a conflict unnecessarily.

"Fellow Daoist, you may not know this, but although teleportation talismans can save your life, there have been quite a few murders on the island, which shows that teleportation talismans are by no means foolproof. I see that your cultivation level is not high and you are all alone, so I would like to invite you to join us. We can stick together for warmth and have a safe night." The tall cultivator's voice was earnest.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I'm used to being alone," You Su coldly replied.

The tall cultivator persisted, "Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be nervous. I am Yu Jichang, a disciple of the Xingyue Sect in the Southern Yang Continent. This is my junior brother, Zha Ao. We are by no means bad people. I'll light a fire and take a look; once you see the token in my hand, you'll believe me."

"In this pitch-black night, lighting a fire is tantamount to telling everyone that you are here."

You Su had also heard of the Xingyue Sect, a first-rate immortal family on Tian Qi Divine Mountain in the Southern Yang Continent. The names of these two disciples were much more famous than Huang Xi's, and both of them were at the upper level of the Water Condensing Upper Realm.

But You Su still gripped the hilt of his sword. This was a dark jungle, where dangers might lurk everywhere, and deliberately revealing his position would be tantamount to courting death.

It's even possible that... danger is already imminent.

"It's alright. Does everyone have to hide in the shadows? Lighting a fire may attract wicked people, but it can also gather those of us on the righteous path. If no one lights a fire, I will be the only light in the night."

This man's words sound grand and impressive, but unfortunately You Su has never been able to tolerate such high-sounding rhetoric.

"If you want to die, stay away from me, don't let the light shine on you."

"What do you have to hide? Can't I take pictures?" Zha Ao had clearly lost patience with You Su.

"Zha Ao, have you forgotten the Xingyue Sect? The stars and moon are the only light in the night, and should naturally shine upon everyone."

After reprimanding his junior brother, Yu Jichang took out a torch, and with a flash of orange light, a blazing fire burst into flames.

The area within several meters was instantly illuminated, and the two finally saw You Su's figure clearly. They looked at each other for a moment, then exchanged a glance, as if confirming something.

But the next moment, the two looked at the corpse with half its body inside the grave with horror on their faces.

They quickly scanned their surroundings, and Zha Ao seemed to instantly understand something, exclaiming in alarm:

"Senior brother! He killed someone! No wonder he didn't want you to set the fire!"

You Su frowned, about to explain, when he was interrupted.

"Fellow Daoist! I considered you a fellow Daoist, but I never imagined you were no different from those beasts who devour human flesh and blood!"

Yu Jichang looked disappointed, but his eyes were fixed on You Su with a fierce look, as if he wanted to avenge the corpse in the pit.

"He..."

"Enough with the idle talk! Prepare to die!" Zha Ao's expression changed drastically, and he roared as he charged forward with incredible speed.

Zha Ao's moves were extremely ruthless; it was as if an invisible blade was wielded in his hand, aimed straight at his heart.

You Su frowned, having no choice but to accept the attack. His long sword was already drawn, and his figure moved like a black lightning bolt, striking towards Zha Ao, who was right in front of him.

The two were not far apart, only ten zhang apart. To You Su, it was no different from being face to face. The physical explosive power of cultivators of the same realm was far inferior to his, so he had no chance to dodge.

In that instant of confrontation, Yu Jichang's expression changed:

"Stop!"

Unfortunately, this shout did not hinder You Su's sword momentum at all; instead, it made his junior brother hesitate.

In the blink of an eye, a gust of wind swept by, and the torch in Yu Jichang's hand flickered for a moment, before a spray of blood splattered onto his cheek.

It was the blood of his junior brother Zha Ao.

Zha Ao stared at his severed arm lying on the ground, his numb consciousness not even registering the sudden, excruciating pain.

"You're asking for it!" Zha Ao, clutching his bleeding wound, was filled with pain and hatred, his veins bulging as he shouted, "I'll chop off your hands!"

Yu Jichang's expression also turned extremely sinister. He angrily stuck the torch into the ground, and his aura rose steadily.

He never expected that a mere lower-level Water Condensing Lower Realm could sever the arm of his Water Condensing Upper Realm cultivator with a single strike. This was certainly a case of Zha Ao, but it was still too unbelievable.

Who exactly are you?

"Huang Xi's friend, that's right, Huang Xi is him."

You Su pointed his sword at the corpse in the grave. He was suddenly glad that he hadn't buried him earlier, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to witness the moment of revenge.

"Looks like you figured it out..." Yu Jichang gritted his teeth menacingly.

You Su shook his head, "It's because you exposed yourselves too quickly, acting so indiscriminately and impatiently, that shows your original purpose was to kill me."

"You mere Water Condensing Lower Realm cultivator! I could crush you with a flick of my wrist! I shouldn't have listened to my senior brother and tried to probe you with words first! I should have attacked directly!" Zha Ao had already used Technique Method to stop the bleeding from his wound.

"The thief cries 'Stop thief!' It's a classic tactic." You Su bent down, like a drawn bow. "I was wondering why you were running so fast. Now I realize you're actually very familiar with this place, which is why you dared to run so fast."

"You're smart and cautious, but you'll never have the chance to avenge your brother." Yu Jichang's fists suddenly flashed with a pale blue light, captivating and mesmerizing. "Hand over your teleportation talisman, and we might let you go."

"Is that what you said to Huang Xi too?" You Su asked.

"No, he's much easier to fool than you..." Yu Jichang with a sinister smile.

"But he's not easy to fool." Being honest doesn't mean being stupid.

"He's not easy to fool, but it seems he just found the last medicinal herb for his junior sister. He was already preparing to tear up the letter and send it out, so naturally his vigilance has lowered considerably. Otherwise, with his strength, even the two of us brothers would have suffered a bit if we went head-to-head with him. You know, this country bumpkin from such a remote place is quite a tough nut to crack..."

The cold words already revealed the truth behind Huang Xi's death.

This simple monk, in fulfilling his wish, must have meant well by allowing these two people to approach him, but ultimately lost his life because of his gullibility.

You Su gripped the Ink Pine Sword tightly, Ink Pine Sword trembled slightly once more, responding to You Su's barely concealed killing intent.

He wouldn't travel thousands of miles to seek revenge for Huang Xi, but with the enemy so close at hand, You Su wouldn't mind eliminating him as soon as possible.

A deafening explosion ripped through the air as You Su charged forward like lightning.

He was clearly more skilled in combat than his junior brother, and his fists were already prepared.

Faced with You Su's overwhelming sword momentum, he showed no intention of dodging, but instead chose to confront it head-on!

You Su immediately understood his intention: he was deliberately keeping him occupied so that the one-armed Zha Ao would get involved in the battle!

He never intended to win on his own from the very beginning!

You Su dared not linger in the fight, and his brief contact with the fist, imbued with energy, was immediately broken. Zha Ao's sharp knife then appeared behind him like a ghost.

"I'm going to chop you up!"

You Su's figure spun like a ghost, Ruyi Wind-Controlling Technique came in handy once again! It allowed him to dodge the pincer attack in a way that would be impossible for someone at the Condensing Water Realm.

"A swift and decisive victory."

Yu Jichang glanced at the burning torches, gave a cold warning, and then suddenly increased his speed, his punches becoming increasingly fierce. Coupled with Zha Ao's harassment, You Su was forced to take a passive defensive stance.

Both men's attacks had their own strategies: the fists led him toward the path of the daggers, while the daggers forced him toward the point where the fists would land.

These two brothers worked together so closely that they seemed like habitual criminals who frequently committed evil deeds and murders together.

You Su kept his spirits focused inward, deliberately luring the enemy deep into his territory. He seized the opportunity and suddenly leaped high into the air.

Although the two were surprised, they also felt that You Su had asked for trouble by falling into the air!

Right now--

You Su opened his dark eyes and slashed down with his sword in one hand.

He hadn't fought anyone for a long time, but he never stopped Don't Cower Sword Intent!

Sword Qi like a rainbow!

The jet-black sword blade struck the two fists, instantly extinguishing the blue light on it. A look of surprise flashed in Zha Ao's eyes. He seemed to see a jet-black dragon piercing through the firelight in the darkness, tearing his senior brother's arms to shreds.

Yu Jichang flew straight back for more than ten meters, scraping a deep groove in the ground before crashing into a tree and barely regaining his balance. He tilted his head to the side, and there he was, dead.

Zha Ao looked at You Su, who had turned to him, and felt as if he had seen the Grim Reaper in the darkness. His knees trembled, and he knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly.

"My lord, please have mercy and don't kill me!"

You Su simply stared at him coldly, as if he were an ant.

Although these two were at the Water Condensing Upper Realm, their aura was far inferior to Huang Xi's. If they hadn't used a sneak attack and underhanded tactics, they wouldn't have been able to kill Huang Xi.

You Su drew his sword and pressed it against Zha Ao's lower abdomen, aiming it at the spiritual altar below his abdomen.

Zha Ao's veins bulged instantly, and he felt the Sword Qi surging in his abdomen. He knew that if he didn't obey orders, his internal organs would be pulverized in an instant.

"Give me Huang Xi's things, and your invitation."

Zha Ao's knees trembled as he took out a large sack from his personal Universe Bag.

"Where's the invitation? Where did you put it? I'll get it for you!"

You Su thrust his sword forward, piercing Zha Ao's outer garment.

A treasure like a teleportation talisman is better hidden in a convenient location than in Universe Bag. In a life-or-death situation, the faster you tear off the talisman, the better.

But Zha Ao stammered, and in his anxiety, tears and urine streamed down his face.

"My lord, I don't have an invitation... Huang Xi's invitation was with my senior brother, but he's already dead!"

You Su frowned slightly. "Where's your invitation? If you don't have one, why didn't you get Huang Xi's invitation?"

"Not only did I not have it, but my senior brother didn't either! We set this trap to steal the invitation from the adult!"

You Su was taken aback, then thrust again with force, drawing blood.

"Your invitations were stolen?"

"No! We never had any!"

"No? Then how did you get onto the island?"

"It didn't say that an invitation was required to enter the island, sir!" Zha Ao couldn't help but lean back, trying to keep the sword further away from him.

"Explain yourself!" You Su pressed forward menacingly.

"As everyone knows, only 360 people received invitations... Among these 360, there are already countless talents from all over the world. Many who weren't selected are Qi Ingestion, feeling that there are many mediocre people among the 360. So after you all entered the island, True Immortal Zhengyang selected many more people from among us onlookers and sent them to the island... True Immortal Zhengyang gave us these opportunities to enter the island and seize the talisman. Whoever can seize the talisman will be the one invited..."

In his panic, Zha Ao confessed everything without reservation.

"My lord, please don't kill me! I'll tear off the talisman and leave the island right now, and I'll never dare to offend you again!"

You Su swiftly raised his sword and struck, severing his neck from his body.

He looked back and saw that the burning fire had indeed attracted a lot of attention.

I was in a rush today, which resulted in a poor reading experience. I'll make it up to you with an extra chapter. Sorry!